The Dodgers are back at full strength today with second baseman Jeff Kent, left fielder Luis Gonzalez and catcher Russell Martin back in the lineup. None of them played Wednesday night when the Rockies won 7-2.
Jeff Baker starts at first base for the Rockies while Todd Helton gets a planned day off. Helton is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak during which heâ€™s hit .478 (11-for-23). When Baker made his first career start at first base, against the Dodgers on April 9 in Los Angeles, he responded with a 3-for-4 performance.

Dugout chatter
â€œWhen Iâ€™m starting, it gives me a chance to get prepared better. Of course everybody wants a chance to get back in the starting rotation.â€?
— Pitcher Taylor Buchholz on the possibility heâ€™ll replace the injured Rodrigo Lopez in the starting rotation.

â€œCommand has been as issue in the past, but heâ€™s looked good this spring. Heâ€™s got some breaking stuff that can be effective. Like a lot of left-handers, he tops out in the high 80s and low 90s. But this is the best I have seen him.â€?
— Manager Clint Hurdle on Dodgers starter Mark Hendrickson, who starts in the place of the injured Jason Schmidt.

Numbers of note
Rockies starters have gone at least five innings in 13 of the first 15 games.

The Rockies’ revitalized offense revived an old criticism that had dissipated since 2002 as the humidor became more effective. After getting tagged for five runs in 4 2/3 innings, Los Angeles Dodgers starter Derek Lowe took some shots at Mile High baseball.

“The altitude, I think, has something to do with it. It’s not really baseball,” Lowe said. “I think when a guy pitches a good game here, they make such a big deal about it. I don’t think there should be. That’s my feeling. You just take your lumps and go on to the next game when you are in a controlled environment.”Read more…

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.